Anne's words left Jack speechless. His hands that were still on Anne's back stopped patting.

"What do you mean, Anne?" asked Jack briefly.

​​

"Since childhood, I have often been disappointed because I expect kindness from someone. All I got only disappointment at the end. Because of that, I don't want to depend on other people anymore. I don't want to make myself weak and helpless so that people would feel sorry for me. I hate to be pitied," Anne replied quietly.

"You're not a helpless little kid, Anne. Didn't you promise me you won't remember that morning of your childhood again? Then why are you still discussing it again? You're currently a very independent woman, Anne. You own a shop that supports two people who need a job when you are still so young, while other girls your age are still arrogantly squander the money their parents gave them. So please, don't remember your childhood. You are no longer the poor Marianne who is helpless and trampled on by people. You are the Anne who is smart, witty, and kind. So stop remembering the past, you understand?" Jack said softly.

"I know, Jack, but sometimes I just ..."

"Listen to me, I've told you many times that I'll be the only person who believes in you when the whole world doubts you. You have to remember that, I'm not your music teacher at church, or your godparents who abandoned you after taking advantage of you. I am Jack, Jack who loves you sincerely," Jack replied, quickly interrupting Anne's words.

Bam!

Instead of being touched by Jack's sweet words, Anne hit Jack in the chest quickly.

"Don't talk about love. I don't want to hear that. There is no genuine love in this world as long as there are still many people who are dazzled by money and power," said Anne quickly as she got up from the carpet and got ready to go to college.

Jack, who was still clutching his painless chest, just watched Anne went upstairs to go up to the second floor.

"You've rejected me many times, then what about Aaron? Did you accept his proposal a few days ago?" Jack asked loudly.

Thump!

Anne, who almost climbed the stairs, immediately stopped her footsteps. She then turned to the sofa where Jack was still sitting.

"I want to give a little life lesson to Steffi and Leon first, Jack, and I have never thought of starting any relationship with anyone. Holding a title of a widow once hurts, Jack. I don't want to hold that title for the second time. It's not a problem for a man to get married a hundred times, but for a woman, it's not easy to be a widow, believe me, Jack," said Anne slowly and enigmatically, because she disagreed with Jack's opinion and did not deny it either.

Hearing Anne's words made Jack silent. Anne's answer was enough for him to confirm that Aaron didn't seem to get the green light from Anne, just like himself, who never been considered by Anne.

"Well, then get ready quickly. I'll drive you to campus. Don't you have a class this morning?" asked Jack again.

"Five minutes, give me five more minutes. I'll be ready in a moment," said Anne quickly as she continued her steps towards her room on the second floor.

"Never mind five minutes, Anne, I have been very patient for two years waiting for you, Anne." Jack thought in response to Anne's words.

Because Anne had gone up to the second floor, Jack then tidied up the plates they had ised for breakfast and brought them to the pantry. Because there was only one plate and two glasses, Jack finally decided to wash the dishes. For the first time, he, who had been served by servants, was washing the dishes he had used to eat at someone else's house. Anne, who had just come down the stairs, looked very shocked when she saw Jack was washing the dishes. Jack's two sleeves that were rolled up to his elbows made him look sexy and emitted a strange aura that made Anne uncomfortable. Anne quickly stepped into the bathroom to calm herself. When she was already in the bathroom, she walked straight to the mirror and looked at her face. She felt hot.

"What's wrong with you, Anne? You have to be aware, Anne. Remember what your goal is, don't be tempted by him, Anne. You have to remember your mistakes back then when you want to marry Leon because you only saw his good looks, Anne, you have to learn from what happened to you back then. Don't let yourself fall in the same place, Anne," said Anne quietly to herself, patting her flushed cheeks.

Knock

Knock

"Anne, let's go. Are you going to be in there for a while?" Jack asked loudly after knocking on the bathroom door.

"Y-yes, I'm just doing my makeup for a while," said Anne nervously.

"Don't wear too much make up, Anne, you're going to campus, not going to a fashion show that requires heavy makeup," Jack said irritably. He didn't like Anne to dress up too much, especially like last night, with that blood red lipstick.

"I know, Jack, be patient!!!" answered Anne again.

Knock

Knock

Knock

"Anne ... don't wear the red lipstick anymore, you heard me, Anne?!"

Jack shouted again with a loud voice while banging on the bathroom door. He was very impatient waiting for Anne to come out of the bathroom. He was very uneasy waiting for Anne at the bathroom door. Remembering Anne's appearance last night made him uneasy. Jack didn't like Anne to be the center of attention because of her appearance.

After managed to calm herself down, Anne then came out of the bathroom slowly. There was a little splash of water on both cheeks that made Jack frown. Without speaking, Jack then approached Anne and immediately wiped the remaining splash of water on Anne's cheeks using his finger.

"If you come out of the bathroom, your whole body and face are clean from water, Anne, you won't know what will happen in the future if you let the water stick to your body," Jack said quietly while tidying Anne's slightly messy hair.

"Don't be so nice to me, Jack," muttered Anne softly.

"I've been good to you a long time ago, but you don't realize it," replied Jack briefly.

"I-I'm not ..."

"Okay, we're done, let's go to campus. It's getting late and don't forget to check your belonging. Don't leave anything behind or you'll get into trouble at campus," Jack said softly, smile.

Hearing Jack's words made Anne remember the assignment that had to be submitted today in Professor Simon's class. She quickly walked to the sofa and put the paper she had made all night into her bag. She almost forgot about the assignment if Jack did not remind her. After putting her assignment into her bag, she then walked towards Jack again with a smile.

After Anne tidied up her things, Jack then grabbed Anne's hand and took her out of the room. They then walked together to the elevator which was still empty because it was too early for the workers to go to her office.

"Vanilla, I really like the scent of the perfume you're wearing, Anne," Jack whispered softly when he was in the elevator.

"Don't mess with me, Jack, there are lots of little kids," said Anne slowly as she pinched Jack's arm slowly, because at this time there were about four elementary school children riding the elevator with the two of them. Anne did not want the little children to hear what Jack said.

"Leave it, let them learn ... Ouch!"

Jack could not finish his words when Anne stomped on his left foot firmly. The four children who were in the elevator immediately turned to Jack when they heard the sound of his scream of pain.

"Uncle, what's wrong with you?" asked a little girl with pink ribbons quickly.

"Yes, Uncle, are you hurt?" A boy with a hat asked.

"The teacher said that if someone in the elevator was injured, we should immediately press the emergency button so that people outside can hear and help us," said another girl quickly as she tried to press the yellow emergency button inside the elevator.

"Don't, Dear!!" Anne screamed loudly as she held the little girl's hand that was about to press the emergency button.

"Why not, pretty sister? Uncle is hurt, sis," asked the little girl who was currently in Anne's arms quickly. She felt annoyed at Anne who was holding back her good intentions.

"Uncle, pretty sister?! You call me uncle and call her pretty sister?! Wow, this is unbelievable," said Jack coldly in an elevated voice.

Hearing a loud voice from Jack made the four children cried at the same time. They cried in fear because they were yelled at by Jack. The four children burst into tears and hugged Anne.

"Whoa! Evil uncle!"

"Mommy, there's an evil uncle! Hoo hoo hoo hoo ..."

"Pretty sister, help, hoo hoo hoo."

To be Continued